File: Magick
Author: Hurn
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       Hello, Welcome to this, the next installment of my series.

Tonight's Topic:  MAGICK, some definitions, some theories, and a couple of 
observations.

       Now, as most of you may know, Magick is a somewhat controversial
issue.  Even the spelling of the word is argued about!  I have picked up
the habit (only the gods know where I picked it up ... possibly from my
occasional perusals of Crowley) of using "Magick" for the real thing, and
using "Magic" for what a stage magician does.

       Before I go any further, I guess that I had better define Magick.
One definition is:

 "the art or science of causing change to occur in conformity to Will"
                                                       - A. Crowley

  Now, while Crowley himself, was quite controversial, I think we can all
agree that this should serve as a generic definition of Magick.  
  
  But, one of the differences between types of magicks is in the way of
raising or calling energy to cause change.  Thus, such a change may be
accomplished in one of a couple of ways:

        1. The magick may be caused by the action of only one person or 
group of people.

        2. The magick may be caused by the intercession of some higher (or 
lower) being who was evoked or controlled by a person or group of people.

        3. The magick may be caused by the action of one person or group of
people who is/are "borrowing" energy from some higher being (lower beings
may sell energy, but seldom lend or give it).

        4. The magick may be caused by the person or persons use of an object
or location which was previously charged with energy (ie. a Magickal Tool,
Talisman, standing stones,  etc).

    Note:  The use of a sacrifice (which can range from symbolic sacrifices
of Grain, Wine, etc., all the way to Human Sacrifice [something which I,
personally, am against]) is a combination of methods, in that a relatively
amount of energy is released at the sacrifice itself, and, a larger amount
of energy us usually then given forth by a higher or lower being.


  In many ways, Magick is quite similar to the harder sciences.  In both,
one must expend energy in order to effect a change, or, TANSTAAFL (There 
Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch).

  Another difference between types of Magick is in the Focusing or Concen-
trating of the power being raised.  This may be accomplished through the
use of chanting, singing, dancing, various types of meditation, and through
formalized Ritual steps, which may or may not involve Magickal Tools.

  Which brings us up to another controversial issue...  the use and meaning
of the Circle in Wiccan and Ceremonial Magicks.

  Now, as some of you may know, a Magickal Circle serves a couple of uses,
and, as far as I can see, the argument is really over which is the most
important aspect of such a Circle.

  Most modern Wicca types will say that a Circle's property of: "Holding
and concentrating the Good energy being raised, until it is ready to be
released" is the most important.

  Many Ceremonial types cite the Circle's ability to keep out negative
energies and influences as being most important.

  While, some others say that a Circle relates the tie of spirit to body,
and the ability of spirit to act on the body, with the tie of the people
on the inside to the world(s) without, and a similar ability to cause
change.

  As for my own position on this argument, while, in most areas, I tend to
favour the Wiccan position (albeit, with a decidedly Discordian slant),
in this case, I'll say:  "Who CARES which is most important!?!  A Circle
does all of the above, and more, but, it's not worth arguing over!"

  So, on to the heart of this article:  Explaining Magick in terms of
Quantum Physics [{chuckle}, I knew a couple of Physicists who used to 
explain Quantum Physics in terms of Magick {grin}].  This covers the how
and why Magick works.

PLEASE NOTE:  I do not claim to be infallible, this is not a laying down
of the LAW.  Rather, this is simply a theory.  But then, E = MC(squared)
is simply a theory.  However there exists lots of data which supports 
both theories.


   Since I've already covered some basic Magickal Theory, it looks like
time to start on the Physics end of things.  I'll start with the theories
of Probability and Uncertainty.

   Probability can be likened to Voltaire's Theory that:  "Since this is
 the Only One of All Possible Worlds that we know, it must, therefore,
 be the Best of All Possible Worlds!".   While this may be an interesting
concept, Voltaire's logic is slightly flawed.  A better statement would
be: "This is the most Probable of All Possible Worlds".

  Thus, the Theory of Probability is quite simple.  Everything we see or
experience is due to probability.  An Apple, when dropped, will fall (as
long as it's in a gravity well, like, the surface of a planet, and, no
other forces are acting on it), because falling is the most probable 
course of action open to it.

  Uncertainty comes into play when there IS no one most probable thing
to happen.  Good examples of uncertainty in action are small things,
like electrons in orbit around an atom.  Since there is no one most
probable spot for that electron to be, it isn't in one place.  There is
a locus of higher probability, wherein  a lower energy electron is
more likely to be closer to the nucleus, and higher energy ones farther
away.  Thus, scientists may either pin down where an electron is, or, 
where it is going, but, they CAN'T pin down both at the same time.  Also,
electrons tend to vibrate in energy level, spontaneously bouncing up and
down, seeking their most probable states.

  So, "Where does Magick come into play?" one may ask (assuming, that is,
that one has made it this far).  Well, one of the tenants of the Theory
of Probability is that: the possibility of an event occurring depends upon
the events probability.  Thus, if said probability can be changed, one 
could, theoretically, either make such an event happen, or prevent such
an event to happen.  And this is what Magick really is... the Art of
Changing Probability.

  And, here's how that happens...
Einstein, as some may recall, was NOT happy with the theory of Probability.
Since, who decides what is most probable, and, how can such decisions be
altered?  Einstein said "God does not play dice with the universe!", and
tried, for years, to come up with a better theory.  But, he failed, and
so far, all the data collected tends to support the theory of Probability.
Some others have come up with possible answers to the above posed question.
One of which is that Chance determines probability (this is the theory 
that Einstein commented upon).  Another theory is that some sort of GOD 
decides probability.  Needless to say, whatever being who could alter
probability at will, WOULD be a god!

  And so, that brings us to the present state of affairs.  No doubt, even
as I write, somewhere, there is someone trying to come up with some more
theories governing the manipulation of probability, and thus, allowing
the construction of a machine which does just that.  But, there are also
some who have found that such a machine exists... PEOPLE!   

  There is already lots of evidence, some documented, most overlooked
or kept hidden by the use of vows, that People CAN affect probability.

                                             Blessed Be...
                                                           Hurn